Dune HD Pro One 8K Plus | The NEW Best In-Home Streaming Media Player?

Summary

Logan reviews the Dune HD Pro18 K Plus, a $400 Android TV box that aims to outperform competitors like the Nvidia Shield. It features an aluminum casing for cooling, an S928X chip for 8K 60Hz output, and a Dolby Vision 10 engine. The device supports local media storage, network streaming, and has a user-friendly interface. Despite a lack of Netflix certification, it offers robust features like direct USB 3.0 connectivity and a versatile remote. Logan explores whether its $200 premium over the Shield justifies its value, particularly for those seeking advanced streaming and media management capabilities.

Takeaways

• 📦 The Dune HD Pro 4K Plus is a premium Android TV box priced at $400, offering a variety of features beyond basic streaming capabilities.
• 🌐 It provides access to popular online streaming services and allows for playback of locally stored media or content served through a network from a media server.
• 🔥 A highlight feature is the S928x chip, which supports 8K 60Hz output and hardware AV1 decoding, with a focus on advanced Dolby Vision capabilities through the Dolby Vision 10 engine.
• 📦 The device comes with a robust aluminum housing, Bluetooth remote, HDMI cable, and international power adapter, including batteries.
• 💾 It includes a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive bay for local media storage and can function as network-attached storage (NAS) via SMB server.
• 🔌 The Dune HD Pro 4K Plus has multiple USB ports, including a USB 3.0 client port that allows direct connection to a computer for media management.
• 📺 The built-in video player is capable of streaming 4K Blu-ray rips smoothly, even over Wi-Fi, and supports advanced Dolby Vision profiles.
• 🚫 However, the device does not have Netflix certification, meaning it cannot play Netflix content in 4K, and other streaming services may not work optimally.
• 🛠️ The user interface is well-designed and easy to navigate, with a vintage yet functional aesthetic, and offers an aggregate list of popular movies and TV shows.
• 🔄 The device allows for scraping of movie collections from a NAS and presents a clear interface for choosing between different file versions of the same movie.
• 🛑 Minor issues were encountered with app updates, but the problem was easily resolved by enabling the Google Play Store on the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus.
• 💡 The Dune HD Pro 4K Plus offers a high level of openness, including root access to the operating system, providing users with flexibility in device usage and maintenance.

Q & A

What is the Dune HD pro18 K plus and what is its primary function?

The Dune HD pro18 K plus is an Android TV box that connects to a TV or projector, allowing users to watch movies and TV shows. Its primary function is to provide an enhanced streaming experience with access to online streaming services and local media storage or content served through a network from a media server.

What is the price of the Dune HD pro18 K plus and how does it compare to the Nvidia Shield?

The Dune HD pro18 K plus is priced at $400, which is $200 more than the Nvidia Shield. The comparison is made to determine if the added features of the Dune HD justify the higher price.

What are some unique features of the Dune HD pro18 K plus that set it apart from other streaming devices?

Unique features of the Dune HD pro18 K plus include the S 928x chip that supports 8K 60 HZ output, hardware AV1 decoding, and a Dolby Vision 10 engine for fine control over Dolby Vision output parameters. It also has a built-in 2.5-inch SATA hard drive bay for local media storage and network-attached storage capabilities.

How does the Dune HD pro18 K plus handle the playback of movies from a NAS?

The Dune HD pro18 K plus can add any network folder as a source for a movie collection, saving login credentials and automatically mounting the share on boot. It can scrape folders to detect movies and allows users to choose between different versions of the same movie with clear file path indications.

What is the issue with streaming services on the Dune HD pro18 K plus in terms of certification?

The Dune HD pro18 K plus does not have Netflix certification, meaning it cannot play back Netflix content in 4K. Additionally, the performance of other streaming services is not guaranteed.

What is the user interface of the Dune HD pro18 K plus like and how does it handle movie selection?

The user interface of the Dune HD pro18 K plus is described as easy to set up with a vintage look. It aggregates a list of popular movies and TV shows and allows for smooth browsing of the movie collection with cached metadata. It also handles movie selection well, especially when there are multiple versions of the same movie.

What is the remote control of the Dune HD pro18 K plus like and are there any concerns about it?

The remote control for the Dune HD pro18 K plus is described as underwhelming for a premium product, feeling a bit cheap. However, it is functional, and for a home theater environment, a universal remote is recommended.

Does the Dune HD pro18 K plus have any issues with app installations or updates?

During testing, there was an issue with installing Disney Plus from a movie recommendation, where the app needed an update but crashed when attempting to do so. However, enabling the Google Play Store on the Dune HD pro18 K plus allowed for the app to be updated successfully.

What is the performance of the built-in video player on the Dune HD pro18 K plus like?

The built-in video player on the Dune HD pro18 K plus performed well, with no noticeable issues while streaming direct 4K Blu-ray rips, even over 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

What additional features does the Dune HD pro18 K plus offer for advanced users?

The Dune HD pro18 K plus offers advanced features such as root access to the underlying operating system, allowing for a high level of customization and control over the device.

How does the Dune HD pro18 K plus compare to the Nvidia Shield for someone without an in-home streaming setup?

For users without an in-home streaming setup who are more interested in online streaming, the Nvidia Shield is a tried and true solution, especially for those using a regular TV, as they won't get the benefits of the Dune HD's better chip.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Unboxing and Features Overview of the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus

Logan introduces the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus, a high-end Android TV box with a price tag of $400. The device is positioned as a competitor to other streaming devices, offering unique features such as an aluminum casing for heat dissipation, an S928X chipset for 8K 60Hz output, and hardware AV1 decoding. The package includes a Bluetooth remote, HDMI cable, and an international power adapter. The player also boasts a Dolby Vision 10 engine for enhanced playback and a front display for time or playback progress. Additionally, it has a SATA hard drive bay for local media storage and network-attached storage (NAS) capabilities, foldable wireless antennas, and multiple USB ports, including a unique USB 3.0 client port for direct connection to a computer.

05:00

🖥 Interface and Functionality Review of the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus

The Dune HD Pro 4K Plus's software is user-friendly, with a vintage yet effective menu layout. Despite not being Netflix certified, it supports various streaming services and local media playback. The device allows for network folder addition and automatic mounting for NAS integration. It also features an efficient movie scraping system that detects and organizes movies on the NAS. The interface is smooth and reminiscent of popular streaming apps, with a unique file selection process that clearly presents options when multiple files match a single movie title. However, there was an issue with updating the Disney Plus app, which was resolved by enabling the Google Play Store for updates. The built-in video player performs well, even streaming 4K Blu-ray rips over Wi-Fi.

10:02

💡 Conclusion and Considerations for the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus

The video concludes with a discussion on the value proposition of the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus. Its Dolby Vision profile 7 layer capability requires an active internet connection due to DRM restrictions. The device offers advanced options like root access to the operating system, appealing to tech-savvy users. The decision to purchase depends on individual needs; for those valuing the VS10 engine and Dolby Vision enhancements on a compatible display, the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus is a compelling choice. However, for users focused on online streaming, the Nvidia Shield might be a more reliable option. The video ends with an invitation to check out the Dune HD Pro 4K Plus on the manufacturer's page and to engage with the content through likes, subscriptions, and comments.

Keywords

💡Dune HD Pro 18K Plus

The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus is a high-end Android TV box designed for streaming movies and TV shows. It is priced at $400 and is positioned as a premium device that aims to offer an enhanced viewing experience compared to standard TV boxes. In the script, it is highlighted for its unique combination of features and its attempt to compete with other popular streaming devices like the Nvidia Shield.

💡Android TV box

An Android TV box is a device that connects to a TV or projector and runs the Android operating system, allowing access to various streaming services and apps. In the video, the Dune HD Pro 18K Plus is described as an Android TV box that provides access to popular online streaming services, emphasizing its role in the modern home entertainment setup.

💡8K 60 Hz output

8K 60 Hz output refers to the capability of a device to display content at a resolution of 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels) with a refresh rate of 60 frames per second. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus is equipped with this feature, which is one of its key selling points, indicating its high-definition streaming and playback capabilities.

💡Hardware AV1 decoding

AV1 is a video codec designed to provide high-quality video streaming with lower bandwidth requirements. Hardware AV1 decoding means that the device has a dedicated processor to decode AV1-encoded content without relying on software. The script mentions this feature as a forward-looking aspect of the Dune HD Pro 18K Plus, suggesting it will become more relevant as streaming services adopt AV1.

💡Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is a high-dynamic-range (HDR) format that enhances the visual experience by providing a wider color gamut and greater brightness range. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus supports Dolby Vision, including advanced features like the Dolby Vision Profile 7, which is a significant aspect of the device's premium video playback capabilities.

💡SATA hard drive bay

A SATA hard drive bay is a slot or compartment in a device designed to house a Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus includes a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive bay for local media storage or as a network-attached storage (NAS) device, which is highlighted in the script as a versatile feature for media enthusiasts.

💡SMB server

SMB (Server Message Block) is a network file sharing protocol that allows applications to read and write to files and to request services from server programs. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus has a built-in SMB server, which enables it to stream media to other devices on the network, a feature that is emphasized in the script for its convenience and compatibility.

💡USB 3.0 client port

A USB 3.0 client port allows for the connection of a device to a computer using a USB 3.0 Type-B cable. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus features this port, which can be used to connect the device's internal storage to a computer as a USB hard drive, facilitating media transfer and management, as explained in the script.

💡Google Play Store

The Google Play Store is a digital distribution platform for Android applications. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus allows users to enable the Google Play Store, which is important for updating apps like Disney Plus, as mentioned in the script, and accessing a wider range of Android apps.

💡Dolby Vision Profile 7

Dolby Vision Profile 7 is a specific configuration of the Dolby Vision format that offers full enhancement layer support, typically found on 4K Blu-ray discs. The Dune HD Pro 18K Plus supports this profile, which is a significant feature for users looking to enjoy the highest quality Dolby Vision content, as discussed in the script.

💡Nvidia Shield

The Nvidia Shield is a competing product in the Android TV box market, known for its robust streaming capabilities and gaming features. The script compares the Dune HD Pro 18K Plus with the Nvidia Shield, particularly in terms of price and functionality, to help viewers make an informed decision based on their needs.

Highlights

The Dune HD pro18 K plus is an Android TV box with a price tag of $400, offering advanced features over standard TV boxes.

It provides access to popular online streaming services and supports local media playback.

The device is designed to compete with the Nvidia Shield, offering a $200 markup for additional features.

The Dune HD pro18 K plus comes with a robust aluminum housing that serves as a heatsink for the S 928x chip.

The S 928x chip supports 8K 60 HZ output and hardware AV1 decoding, a feature that may become more relevant as streaming services adopt AV1.

A key feature is the Dolby Vision 10 engine, offering fine control over Dolby Vision output parameters and support for various formats.

The Dune HD pro18 K plus allows for direct playback of BD backups or ISO files with full Dolby Vision enhancement.

It includes a front display screen showing time or playback progress and a SATA hard drive bay for local media storage.

The device features foldable wireless antennas and multiple USB ports, including a unique USB 3.0 client port for direct computer connectivity.

The remote control, while functional, feels cheap for a premium product and may be replaced with a universal remote in a home theater setup.

The Dune's custom operating system is surprisingly user-friendly, with a vintage yet effective interface.

The Dune HD pro18 K plus does not have Netflix certification, meaning it cannot play Netflix content in 4K.

The device allows for network folder addition and automatic mounting for NAS-based movie collections.

The interface provides a smooth browsing experience with metadata cached on internal storage, reminiscent of the Netflix app.

The Dune HD pro18 K plus offers a clear and user-friendly method for selecting between different file versions of the same movie.

The built-in video player performs well, streaming 4K Blu-ray rips smoothly even over Wi-Fi.

The device requires an active internet connection for Dolby Vision profile 7 layer functionality due to DRM restrictions.

Dune provides options for root access to the operating system, showcasing an open approach to device customization and maintenance.

The value of the Dune HD pro18 K plus depends on customer requirements, particularly for those seeking advanced local streaming and Dolby Vision capabilities.

Transcripts

hey everyone welcome back to the channel

I'm Logan and there are a lot of options

on the market right now for devices that

do nothing more than hook up to your TV

or projector and let you watch movies

and TV shows at this point the bar is

pretty low and even the cheapest TV

boxes are probably going to offer a

halfway decent Android TV experience but

with that said today I want to look at

one of those devices that's trying to

compete above everyone else this is the

$400 Dune HD pro18 K plus and that's the

only time I'm saying its full name in

the video which was sent over to us for

review by Dune and like the Nvidia

Shield it's an Android TV box that's

going to give you access to all the

popular online streaming services you

may or may not be subscribed to right

now as well as your own collection of

locally stored Media or content served

through your network from a media server

but the Doom promises a lot of other

benefits over the shield and my mission

in this video is to see if they're

offering enough added value to justify

that $200 markup over the tried and true

solution because it looks like they've

added a lot of features to this that you

just can't really get anywhere else at

least this combination of features and

for the right person the Dune might be

an excellent choice so with all that out

of the way let's actually take a look at

this box and see what you get the Dune

8K comes in a pretty nice package and

provides some documentation along with

the player itself and all the usual

accessories like a Bluetooth remote HDMI

cable and an international power adapter

which can take a standard US plug

batteries are also included and the Dune

8K player is actually a really nice

piece of Hardware the housing is made

entirely out of aluminum and it has a

positive amount of heft to it but more

importantly this should also help to

keep the S 928x arm s so fairly cool

since the entire chassis is used as a

heat sink for the Chip And that s 928x

chip is actually one of the Highlight

features of the Dune it's a pretty

modern s so sporting full 8K 60 HZ

output which you can leverage using the

dun's HDMI port and it also has stuff

like Hardware av1 decoding which will

hopefully become a more relevant feature

as more streaming services start

offering their content in av1 to save

bandwidth but what's really exciting

here is that Dolby vs10 engine which

basically allows you much finer control

over the Dolby Vision output parameters

of the player and also bring support for

a ton of different Dolby Vision formats

like profile file 7 full enhancement

layer that you would find on 4K Blu-ray

discs without any conversion needed for

playback on the Dune according to Dune

you can just use a BD backup folder made

in make MKV for example or use an ISO

file of your disc and get the full

functionality of the Dolby Vision

enhancement from this so but we'll be

sure to dive further into that once we

actually test the unit and stream some

of our own movies onto it so for now on

the back of the Dune we've got a toslink

optical audio port a 3.5 mm audio jack

8K HDMI gigabit Ethernet a DC power

Inlet and a power switch on the front we

have a nice little screen that lets you

see the current time or the progress of

your current playback as well as a

little door which opens to reveal a

standard 2 and 1/2 in SATA hard drive

bay this can be used by the Dune for

local storage of media on the device

itself and it can also be used as

network attached storage using the SMB

server built to into the player which

can actually stream to other Dune

devices in the network or anything else

that supports SMB which is a lot of

devices so this is a really neat feature

on either side of the unit you can also

see these nice foldable Wireless

antennas and on the right side we get a

USB 2.0 Port two USB 3.0 ports and a USB

3.0 client port and this is really

uncommon but it actually makes a lot of

sense here basically you can plug a USB

3 typeb cable into this port Nook the

other end into your computer and then

whatever SATA storage you have inside

your player will be shown to your

computer as a USB hard drive meaning you

can format it and copy media to it so on

and so forth you don't even need to hook

up power to the Dune itself to use this

feature which is really cool and Mak

syncing large files really convenient

compared to other media players you

could even use this to directly rip

Blu-ray discs from your computer into

the hard drive of the streaming box for

example I do wish they would have

included a cable for this but it's a

pretty standard cable and not all that

expensive to get afterward if you'll be

using this feature and on that note we

do have to talk about the other slightly

less impressive aspects of this unit

that I noticed uh and one of those has

really got to be the remote which for

such a premium product was honestly

pretty underwhelming it's a little cheap

feeling but it gets the job done there's

not really much to say about it other

than the fact that if you're in a home

theater environment hopefully you have a

good universal remote that you can use

instead but while all the aspects of the

Dune player itself sound really good on

paper it really comes down to the

implementation of all these features

that's going to determine whether or not

it's even worth considering and usually

when I hear that someone's gone out of

their way to make a streaming box and

roll their own operating system for it

as is the case with the Dune players I

start to get a little worried because

the interfaces that ship with a lot of

streaming boxes outside of the

mainstream options are usually pretty

bad so with this in mind I crossed my

fingers and cautiously plugged in our

unit here so I could get a feel for it

and I got to say I was actually

pleasantly surprised the Dune software

was easy to set up although the visual

style of the menus here strike me as

looking a little vintage like a really

old Apple TV or something but I mean

that in a really good way everything

here is laid out really well and after

using the interface for a while I have a

lot of good things to say about it once

you get past the initial setup it's

going to show you this aggregate list of

a bunch of different popular movies and

TV shows and just because a movie is on

the screen here doesn't mean I'm

endorsing it neither is Dune but it does

mean that the movie is available through

one of the streaming services supported

by Dune and I should make it clear here

that while the Dune 8K is technically an

Android TV streaming box the main

function here is supposed to be

streaming from a Naas or playing back

media from the internal hard drive and I

say this because Dune wants to make it

very clear that this player does not

have Netflix certification so

unfortunately it can't play back any

Netflix content in 4k and other

streaming services aren't guaranteed to

work either and this isn't a huge

problem for us since we don't have

Netflix anymore but Dune also offers

Netflix certified Android TV models for

this exact purpose so if we're supposed

to be streaming from a Naz let's walk

through the process of actually doing

that you can add any network folder as a

source for your movie collection on the

dune and what this does is save the

login credentials for your Nas on the

player and automatically mounts that

share on boot so once that's been done

you have the ability to scrape any of

the folders in that share that you added

and the Dune will go through every

single file and try to detect the movies

that you have on your Nas all of our

movies here are on an SMB share hosted

from our sonology Nas and it only took

about 20 minutes to scrape our

collection and it seemed to pick up all

of our movies just fine with those movie

scraped you'll now see your local

network storage as an option for playing

back any of the movies recommended in

the movie section of the Dune interface

and if you're really not at all that big

into online streaming you can just

remove the entire online listing which

can also get rid of some of the weird

recommendations for movies you'd

probably never want to watch anyway the

actual process of browsing through

movies on the Dune home screen was

really good as well since all the

metadata for your movies are cached on

that 64 GB of internal storage going

through your colle ction is pretty

smooth and I like the layout of their

interface in some ways it reminds me a

lot of the Netflix app and one of the

most wellth thought out features of the

Dune interface is how you actually

choose files to play and this goes hand

inand with the scraping of movies as

well over time as you build up a movie

collection it's almost inevitable that

you'll eventually upgrade a movie well

in this case if you have more than one

folder or file on your Nas that matches

with a single movie The Dune will just

ask you very verbosely which file you

want to stream and it'll even clearly

tell you the file path of each option

and the reason I'm making this such a

big deal is because the zido players

that we reviewed on our Channel

previously do a much worse job handling

the scenario of having different

versions of the same movie they just add

tiny little buttons on the movie info

screen that you can switch between and

it changes a tiny label that shows you

which version of the movie that you're

playing the fact that you're selecting

between two different different files of

the same movie isn't very clear over

there so the Dune definitely did a

better job here and that was my main

observation with most of the

functionality on the Dune HD as far as

the user interface goes it seems welld

designed and everything basically worked

one hiccup that we did run into while

testing was when trying to install

Disney plus from a movie recommended on

the home screen the player installed

Disney plus just fine but upon trying to

launch it we got a notice saying that

the app needed to update and trying to

update it just made the app crash it

didn't take long to figure out that we

could enable the Google Play Store on

the Dune very easily and from there it

became easy to update the Disney Plus

app so I'm not sure why this happened in

the first place maybe it was just bad

timing and dune hadn't downloaded an

update that had been pushed to the Play

Store but the solution wasn't very

difficult so I'll give it a pass the

built-in video player itself was also

great I didn't notice any hiccups while

streaming direct 4K Blu-ray rips even

over 5 GHz Wi-Fi and of course if you

have a compatible display you can take

full advantage of the Dolby Vision

profile 7 layer on your movie rep but

note that this functionality also

requires the player to have an active

internet connection presumably to

appease some kind of draconian DRM that

will go on to plag us consumers until

the end of time so the Dune definitely

did what it was designed to do and if

you want to push it further they

actually offer a lot of other really fun

options like the ability to get Rude

access to the underlying operating

system which really makes me appreciate

how open these guys are with their

devices it doesn't feel like some kind

of a Walden Garden where you're only

meant to use the device the way the

manufacturer expects and there's more

value in that than you realize when

you're making this big of investment you

want to be able to maintain it and use

it however you see fit in your setup but

whether or not all this is actually

worth the $3.99 price tag is still going

to be pretty difficult to determine and

a lot of it comes down to your

requirements as a customer if you see

this panel that allows you to enable LDV

output using the vs10 engine and you

have a display or projector where you

know this is going to be a big

Improvement the Dune is a no-brainer and

I feel like it's an implementation

that's preferable over the other

Solutions on the market but if it's this

versus an Nvidia Shield when you don't

really have an inhome streaming setup

you're more interested in online

streaming the Nvidia Shield is a tried

andrue solution especially if you're

just using a regular TV and you won't

get the benefits of that better chip so

it's going to depend on your setup but

with all that said I still hope you

found this video helpful if you're

interested in picking up your own unit

we'll leave a link to dune's page on the

8K model here so you can check it out

for yourself let us know if you have any

questions down in the comment section

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our future content and as always have an

awesome day